Shutdown Corner

Does the "Don't you know who I am?" ploy really work for anyone when they're being arrested? Probably so, or else so many famous people wouldn't try it.

John Boyett isn't exactly famous. Who here has heard of him? OK, there's our Oregon football fans. Oh, and some Colts fans too – kudos, because you are very into the Colts.

Boyett was a sixth-round pick out of Oregon. He was a very good safety for the Ducks, but didn't play last year because of injuries. That's why he slipped in the draft, or he might have been more of a household name.

But he was hoping he was a household name when he asked police not to arrest him.

Boyett, who is currently on the non-football injury/reserve list, meaning he's going to miss the first six weeks of the season, tried to get into a bar in Indianapolis but was not let in (that doesn't happen to Reggie Wayne or Andrew Luck, one would think). He wasn't let in because he was too intoxicated, the Indianapolis Star reported. Boyett refused to leave, so the cops were called in.

That's when it got ugly.

The Star reported that Boyett's "abusive behavior" included threatening to break an officer's jaw, making fun of his hair and nose, and when police tried to arrest him Boyett gave them a stiff arm and tried to run away. But here's the money quote:

“You can’t arrest me, I’m a Colts player," Boyett said repeatedly, according to the police report.

Awesome.

Boyett reportedly suffered some injuries to his arm and elbow when he fell as he tried to run from the cops. The Star said Boyett faces preliminary charges of disorderly conduct, public intoxication and resisting law enforcement. He was being held in Marion County Jail.

There are probably a few lessons to be learned from this tale, but one might be: Don't attempt to use your celebrity to get out of an arrest unless there's actually a chance the cops might actually know who you are.